Police: Both Vallejo pedestrians, drivers must help ensure safety

Vallejoan Rolly Wiskerson walks about two miles a day in his neighborhood, and takes special precautions as a pedestrian because some drivers don't pay attention to them. There has been a rash of hit-and-run accidents, and police say both drivers and pedestrians must be more watchful of the dangers on city streets. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)

For the past three years, Rollye Wiskerson has walked about two miles every day for his health.

But the 79-year-old calls the Vallejo streets he walks on "a hazard."

"(Drivers) don't seem to see you, even if you are in the crosswalk," Wiskerson said, "If I don't stop for them, I'd get hit."

Wiskerson said he has been nearly hit too many times.

Pedestrian hazards are not particular to Wiskerson's east Vallejo neighborhood. In the past few months, the city has seen a rash of traffic accidents that have left pedestrians killed or injured, including hit and runs. The victims were usually crossing the streets in crosswalks -- not jaywalking.

The 14-year veteran Vallejo officer said he has not noticed any particular area more dangerous for pedestrians.

"We've seen it happening all over the place," Simpson said.

Since November, three pedestrians have been killed in crosswalks, two by hit-and-run drivers.

Clementina Funes, 88, was killed on Dec. 19, after a car struck her while she was in the crosswalk at Alameda and Virginia streets. The car fled the scene. Funes was taking her regular walk to a nearby convenience store at the time, a granddaughter said. About a month later, suspect Mark Reeves, 48, of Vallejo, turned himself in to police headquarters.

On Nov. 24, Marlyn Madison, 60, of Vallejo died where she was hit by a pickup truck while crossing Sonoma Boulevard at Winchester Street. The case is under investigation, and the truck driver, a 28-year-old Pittsburg man, was blood tested for any alcohol or drugs.

Less than a month later, on Dec. 22, a 64-year-old Vallejo resident Thomas Willey and his dog were struck and killed near Louisiana and Sutter streets in a hit and run. The investigation is ongoing, police said.

Two days after Willey, another man remains in critical condition after a car, believed to be in a "speed race" struck him in a crosswalk.

In addition to these major incidents, there also have been an unusually high number of accidents around town in which pedestrians have been injured.

Simpson said there are many contributing factors, including lack of attention from both drivers and pedestrians, distractions, drug or alcohol influence, and most often, speed.

"Speed is the No. 1 cause of collisions," Simpson said. "There's less reaction time for both (driver and pedestrian)."

Vallejo residents also voiced their concerns on the Times-Herald Facebook site when posed a question about pedestrian safety. Many voiced the view that the responsibility for these accidents rests with both the drivers and pedestrians.

A few also brought up faint crosswalk lines, which can be hard to see at night.

Vallejo city public works Director David Kleinschmidt said the crosswalks are repainted regularly. The city is divided into 18 district areas, and on a rotating basis, each district's pavement lines are repainted at least every five years, he said.

"We are doing it continuously... it's never finished," Kleinschmidt said.

All crosswalks are painted with the standard paint that contains reflective beads. Kleinschmidt said there is no plan to add reflective strips to crosswalks because that is outside standards set by the California Department of Transportation.

Kleinschmidt added that at several "midblock" crosswalks, the city has installed lighted crosswalks with flashing beacons embedded in the pavement, alerting drivers.

However, even more visible crosswalks will not solve the safety problem, Vallejo police's Simpson said.

"People should be more aware of their surroundings," Simpson said. "Two painted lines aren't going to protect you from a two-ton truck."

Simpson said pedestrians should take precautions such as wearing reflective or light-colored clothing, especially when walking after sundown.

Wiskerson said he does not go out when it's dark or foggy.

"I make sure that it's clear," the Vallejoan said.

Wiskerson uses a wooden walking cane on his daily walks, and says he takes extra precautions, including looking directly at drivers' eyes before crossing, or just making sure that the road is clear.

"You really have to jump out of their way sometimes, and I'm slow," Wiskerson said. "Sometimes I want to jam (the walking cane) in their cars."

After three years of near misses, Wiskerson said he's been thinking about complaining to the city about the issue.

"Enforce the rules! Give out citations!" Wiskerson said.

Simpson seconded that sentiment.

"Enforcement is the best way to do it," Simpson said. "It educates people, and deters them from breaking the law. And if they are caught, they will tell their friends about it."

He said Vallejo police once routinely enforced crosswalk laws, but ceased regular enforcement when city funding cuts led to staff reductions.

Police enforcement involves an officer in plain clothes walking in crosswalks and citing drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians.

The reduced number of officers in the department has not allowed the department to carry out such crackdowns, Simpson said. But that's going to change in the near future, he added.

"We are increasing enforcement overall," he added.

The police department is in the process of hiring new officers to increase the ranks to 98.

In the meantime, Simpson urges drivers and pedestrians to be more aware of their environment when using the streets.

Under the law, pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks, and vehicles are required to slow down when approaching marked, or unmarked, crosswalks, to ensure pedestrian safety.

However the law does not exempt all pedestrians' behavior.

"No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard," according to California Vehicle Code section 21950.